12th Man flag causes flap with homeowners’ association

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SEATTLE — Dale Carlson is a Seahawks “12th Man” — a loyal fan, so named after the 11 players on the field.

But Carlson’s support of his hometown team, which includes not only rooting for the team but displaying a 12th Man flag in the front yard of his Snohomish home, has irked his homeowners’ association, the Everett Herald reported.

Carlson told the Herald he received a letter from the Best Management Co. of Kirkland on behalf of his homeowners’ association telling him he had to remove the flag by Sept. 25. The thing is, Carlson said he hasn’t displayed the flag since he received a complaint about it last year. Perhaps feeling a little stifled in his desire to display his team spirit, Carlson then contacted a lawyer.

Attorney Eric Lindell is encouraging Carlson to keep letting his 12th Man flag fly. Lindell told the Herald that Carlson often flies the American flag and that right extends to flying the 12th Man flag.

“He absolutely has a legal right to fly the American flag,” Lindell told the Herald. “I’m going to represent this guy ’til the end of whenever, and I’m going to do it for free.”

Lindell adds that while the 12th Man flag doesn’t have the same legal protection as the American flag, he doesn’t see “what harm it would do to let a guy fly a flag for the local team on the day they play.”

So that’s what Carlson did — he pulled out the 12th Man flag, planted it in his front yard and celebrated the Seahawks upset victory over the Texans on Sunday. A few hours after the game, he pulled the flag down.

But even some Seahawks fans aren’t thrilled with Carlson’s enthusiastic front-yard display.

A neighbor, Michael Kinzer, told the Herald that Carlson plants the flagpole on the property line in front of their homes.

“I think he’s over the top. It’s a nuisance,” Kinzer told the paper. He added that he hasn’t spoken to Carlson about the flags, and did admit to being a Seahawks fan himself.

While Carlson’s attorney wrote to the Best Management Co. requesting permission for Carlson to fly his flag, neither he nor Carlson has heard back from them. The Herald said the management company twice, but there was no response.

In the meantime, Carlson wants to keep up his tradition of flying the 12th Man flag on game days.

“I go to all the home games and when I watch the away games I fly the flag because I want to feel like I’m there,” Carlson told the Herald. He also said the one time he didn’t fly the flag during last year’s playoffs, the Seahawks lost to the Atlanta Falcons.

3 comments

April

Sounds like you have Whiney neighbors. And your neighbor kinzer is not a true fan, I would support my neighbors if they did that! And good for your attorney for fighting and for free, we dont need no losses so fly away! A True Hawks Fan!! GO HAWKS!